Another attack, this time on the western coast
Another attack, this time on the western coast
From Gaza to the western coast, it’s the same front of war
The extensive operation of the Israeli army in Jenin, and now with Trump in the White House, Israeli extremists dream of annexing the western coast. The weapons that have been silent in Gaza are now firing in Jenin on the western coast. The number of killed is at least 12 people, and the number of wounded is around 40. This is the initial count of the extensive military operation that Israeli armed forces have launched against this city, which hosts the largest refugee camp on the western coast. Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub has described the operation as a full-scale invasion, reporting that Apache helicopters are flying over the city, and Israeli military vehicles are present everywhere.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explained that the goal of the iron wall attack is to root out terrorism and is seen as another step to enhance security in Judea and Samaria. However, many view this action as a right-wing extremist move. At least for the time being, a ceasefire in Gaza has been accepted. The implementation of the ceasefire in this region is expected to increase the level of conflicts in the West Bank of the Jordan River.
On Tuesday, Israeli settlers wearing masks attacked the Palestinian villages of Al-Funduq and Jinsafut in the northern West Bank, injuring at least 21 people.
It was amidst this violence that the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi, announced that he will resign on March 6, 2025. He is expected to remain in his position until about 45 days from now. He stated that due to the failure to predict and respond to the October 7 Hamas attack, he is resigning. In his resignation letter, Halevi mentioned that despite significant successes for the army, he has made this decision as not all of Israel’s military objectives have been achieved.
Shortly after him, Major General Yaron Finkelstein, the head of the Southern Command of the Israeli army, also resigned.
The former Investment Minister of Bangovir, who resigned after signing an agreement with Hamas, appreciated this decision and continued, ‘Now I expect a new strong and aggressive Chief of Staff to be appointed who will lead us to victory over Hamas.’
A friend in the White House
Escalation of conflicts in Jenin is happening amidst rapid changes in the United States, a country that is the largest ally and supporter of Israel. Immediately after entering the White House, Donald Trump issued an executive order cancelling sanctions against settlers involved in violent activities.
This action, taken for the first time by Washington, was approved by the Biden administration in a climate of increasing despair over the violence committed by Israeli settlers on the West Bank and the handling of conflicts in Gaza by the Tel Aviv government, which was under pressure from the United States.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry stated that lifting sanctions against their extremist settlers encourages them to commit more crimes against our people, while The Times of Israel noted that the presence of a settler movement leader at the US President’s inauguration ceremony reflects Washington’s changing stance at a fast pace.
Among the many executive orders signed immediately after taking office, Trump also revived an order that allows him to impose economic sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This action paves the way for the United States to impose sanctions against the judicial body and its staff who in recent months issued international arrest warrants against Israeli officials on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Claims of the Holy Scriptures
Among the decisions made by the President-elect, another decision that has concerned Palestinians and a significant portion of the United States’ allies is the selection of Eliza Stephanie, a representative from New York, as ambassador to the United Nations.
During a confirmation hearing in the United States Senate, when Senator Maryland Chris Van Hollen asked her, Stephanie reaffirmed her full support for Israel’s claim regarding the rights of the Holy Scriptures in the entire West Bank. Stephanie, whose position is seen as a threat to influencing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, criticized what she called the UN’s constant bias against Israel and pointed out the disproportionate number of resolutions targeting the country.
He said the United States must unconditionally support Israel at the United Nations. As an ambassador, I will work tirelessly to counter unilateral attacks against the closest ally of the United States and ensure that the United Nations fulfills its mission of promoting peace and security fairly. Another key aspect of Nikki Haley’s testimony was her commitment to reviewing and reforming the allocation of U.S. funds within international organizations. She criticized some organizations, especially UNRWA, the agency assisting Palestinian refugees, for supporting activities that she believed promoted anti-Semitism and encouraged terrorism, activities that Israel deemed illegal.
Mike Huckabee, Trump’s new ambassador to Israel, also echoed similar sentiments and declared that there is no such thing as the West Bank. He had previously stated during his visit to Israel in 2017 that there is no Palestinian identity.
Do the right-wingers acknowledge the West Bank?
In general, it appears that Washington’s decisions confirm the financial times’ predictions that the new US government will be the strongest supporter of the Israeli government in recent decades. During his first presidency, Trump legitimized the Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank, recognized Israel’s claims over the heights of the Golan Heights, and proposed an initiative for peace that allocated most of Jerusalem to Israel and only a poor suburb of this disputed city to the Palestinians.
Today, Trump’s return to power at a time when Palestinians are weaker than before reinforces the far-right Israeli extremists’ long-term goals, including annexing large parts of the West Bank. Trump previously gained credibility by brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, leading to the release of three Israeli hostages.
When asked if he believes the ceasefire can be sustained, the president refrained from committing to the issue. He said, ‘This is not our war, it is theirs.’ Similarly, when questioned about the future of Gaza after 15 months of relentless bombings and at least 46,000 casualties requiring billions of dollars for reconstruction, he gave an ambiguous response.
Trump stated that Gaza is like a destroyed place that needs to be rebuilt differently. For a moment, he returned to his previous role as a real estate mogul and envisioned future investments in this war-torn area as a luxury resort. He described the location as extraordinary, with sea views and excellent weather where amazing things could be done.
On October 7th, the Israeli army, under my command, failed to protect Israeli citizens, leading to the resignation of Lt. Gen. Halutz, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army. His decision was based on his ethical principles, something Netanyahu might not appreciate. Halutz’s resignation somewhat reveals the reasons behind Israel’s recent operations against Gaza.
The main headquarters of Hamas is in the western coast city, but the main reason for the possible attacks that may threaten Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages is Netanyahu’s need for a permanent war. His political survival depends on it. In fact, with his resignation, Halawi indirectly reminded that the main responsible for the October 7 tragedy is the Prime Minister. In the absence of war, Israel had asked Netanyahu to be accountable. Even judges called on him to be accountable for corruption allegations and abuse of power leveled against him.
